Board game apparatus with alignable tray and object discharge means



March 17, 1970 N. H. KETCHUM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 17, 1967 ww QM United States Patent F BOARD GAME APPARATUS WITH ALIGNABLE TRAY AND OBJECT DISCHARGE MEANS Northrop H. Ketchum, 23071 Mulholland Drive, Woodland Hills, Calif. 91364 Filed Nov. 17, 1967, Ser. No. 683,898

Int. Cl. A63f 3/00 U.S. Cl. 273-130 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A game apparatus including a housing defining two adjacent playing areas. Mounted within each playing area are two horizontally disposed plates, one below the other, each including a plurality of openings, and receiving means translatable beneath said plates and including a plurality of chambers each of which may be individually selectively opened or closed. The lower plates are movable from first initial positions disaligning corresponding openings in said plates to second positions aligning said corresponding openings to permit objects to pass therethrough and into respectively aligned opened chambers. The receiving means are translatable between first positions permitting selective opening or closing of the chambers to second positions beneath respective plates to per mit alignment of respective openings and chambers.

This invention relates to a game apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus for use with various games where the object of the game typically is to ascertain or determine the precise graphic or coordinate location of an opponents prepositioned playing objects or representations thereof. The apparatus disclosed herein is intended to be used with any and all of the various types or forms of games having such an object or objects generally similar thereto.

In a typical game of the above description, the materials of the game consist of a grid arrangement wherein each point or location on the grid is given a particular designation. For example, the grid may be rectangular and the vertical axis receives a number or letter designation for each series of horizontal points and the horizontal axis has a number or letter designation for each. series of vertical points. The location of any particular point on the grid is therefore determined by its coordinates with respect to the horizontal and vertical axes. The grid itself may consist of a board with a plurality of holes each representing a point or may simply be a sheet of vertically and horizontally lined paper. Each player typically employs such a grid, with each corresponding point or area receiving identical coordinates.

In a typical game situation, one player would begin by prepositioning objects on the grid, such as pegs inserted in the holes or pencilled representations of objects in the grid locations. An opposing player, by a series of guesses, arbitrary or calculated, depending on the game, must determine the precise location of the first players prepositioned objects. The opposing player may tabulate his guesses on his own grid from information provided by the first player. The game progresses until the opposing player has ascertained the precise position of all the prepositioned objects of the first player.

It can be seen that although the game format itself may be relatively simple, the means of playing and of conveying information from one player to the other are quite exacting and time-consuming. Additionally, there is no method provided in previous game apparatus to compensate for errors in the compilation of information, particularly where information must be transmitted from one player to the other. No previous game apparatus 3,501,151 Patented Mar. 17, 1970 provides a means for automatic visual tabulation of information as to the progress of the game.

I have invented a novel game apparatus which is easily operated and manipulated and which provides such an automatic visual record of the progress of the game. The oral or transcribed record or compilation of the progress of the game is eliminated. My invention includes a novel method of relocating game objects from initial prelocated positions to final or tabulation positions for visual reference by the interested player.

More particularly, my game apparatus comprises a foldable case or housing folding out into two adjacent playing areas wherein two games may progress simultaneously and independently of each other. Each playing area includes two horizontally disposed plates, one above the other, each having a plurality of openings, with corresponding openings initially disaligned. Game objects inserted within openings in the upper plates will be retained therein by the disaligned lower plates. The lower of the two respective plates in either playing area may be moved to align the corresponding openings to allow the objects to pass therethrough into a receiving means beneath the plates. The receiving means may be open to receive the objects or closed to prevent receipt thereof. Objects automatically falling into the receiving means provide a visual and errorless tabulation of the progress of the game. The foldable case or housing may additionally provide a compact means of storing the entire apparatus.

Although a general description of a typical game situation has been described above, it is my intention that my game apparatus not be limited to any particular form or set of rules of any such game but may be used with any of the many and various forms of these or similar games.

It is a principal object of my invention, therefore, to provide a game apparatus which is easily operated and manipulated.

Another object of my invention is to provide such an apparatus which includes a means for the visual tabulation of the progress of the game.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel method of relocating objects from a preset initial position to a final or tabulation position. Still another object of my invention is to provide such an apparatus including horizontally disposed plates including a plurality of openings which will initially retain game objects and upon movement of one of the plates will allow passage of said objects therethrough.

Still another object of my invention is to provide translatable receiving means beneath such horizontally disposed plates which will effect the movement of one of the plates to allow passage of said objects therethrough. Another object of my invention is to provide an apparatus including such receiving means having an open position to receive game objects or a closed position to prevent receipt thereof.

A further object of my invention is to provide in a game apparatus, the combination of: a housing; a first plate mounted to said housing and including a plurality of openings; at second plate mounted to said housing beneath said first plate and including a plurality of openings; means for moving one of said plates from a first position wherein corresponding openings in said plates are disaligned into a second position wherein said corresponding openings in said plates are aligned to permit an object to pass therethrough; and receiving means within said housing having a plurality of chambers selectively operable to open and closed positions for receiving objects passing through said aligned openings when in said open position, said receiving means preventing said oh- 3 jects from passing through said aligned openings when said chambers are close.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of my game apparatus with a foldable housing or case in its open position defining two adjacent playing areas;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of my game apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the horizontally disposed plates of my game apparatus;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 4 with the tray or receiving means translated beneath the horizontally disposed plates; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 6-6 in FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, my preferred game apparatus 10 preferably includes a foldable housing or case 12 which when folded outwardly defines two adjacent playing areas 14 and 16. Each of the playing areas 14 and 16 includes upper and lower horizontally disposed plate members 18 and 20 and a receiving means 22 which is translatable beneath the plates 18 and 20. By manipulating the plates 18 and 20 and the receiving means 22, objects prepositioned initially within upper plate 18 may be relocated, automatically, to within the receiving means 22. p

More particularly, and as shown in the illustrated form of my invention, the case or housing 12 includes two open rectangular box-like wood, plastic, or metallic structures 24 and 26 which form the outer perimeters of the playing areas 14 and 16, respectively, and house the respective parts of the apparatus. The structures 24 and 26 are hingedly joined together at a fold line 28 along their adjacent sides. In this manner, the case 12 may be opened to its playing position (FIG. 1) wherein the playing areas 14 and 16 are adjacent and coplanar, or closed to a closed position (not shown) wherein the playing areas 14 and 16 are substantially contiguous and the case 12 becomes a closed compact structure. In this regard, latch means 30 may be provided on the outer sides of the structures 24 and 26 to retain the case 12 in its closed position. Additionally, handle means 32 may be provided on the outer sides of the structures 24 and 26 to provide a means of carrying or transporting the closed case. The game apparatus 10 therefore may be compactly assembled for storage or transporting and is easily opened into its playing state (FIG. 1) when in use. Because two adjacent playing areas 14 and 16 are provided, two individual games may be played simultaneously and to this end each playing area 14 or 16 complements the other as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The playing areas 14 and 16 and the parts of the apparatus housed in each structure 24 and 26 are identical. For this reason only playing area 14 will be described herein in detail, it being understood that the identical apparatus and method of operation are employed in the other playing area 16.

Structure 24 includes a bottom member 34, opposed sides 36 and 38, and opposed ends 40 and 42. A thin, preferably metallic, plate member 18 is horizontally disposed within the structure 24 adjacent end 42. The plate member 18 is preferably approximately square and extends laterally between sides 36 and 38 and from end 42 inwardly nearly to the middle of the structure 24 as shown. The plate member 18 is disposed within the structure 24 at approximately the tops of the sides 36 and 38 and end 42 and is rigidly mounted within the structure 24. For example, the plate member 18 may be seated on and attached to thin edge members 44 which extend along sides 36 and 38 from end 42 to the inner edge of plate 18. Plate 18 includes a plurality of openings 46 which are preferably arranged in parallel lateral and longitudinal rows extending substantially from edge-toedge of the member 18. The openings 46 may be of any configuration and are illustrated as circular as exemplary of the type of opening I have found particularly adapted to my apparatus.

A thin, preferably metallic, plate member 20 is horizontally disposed below the plate member 18. The plate member 20 includes openings 50 preferably of identical configuration to the openings 46 in plate member 18. The openings 50 in plate member 20 are preferably arranged in parallel lateral and longitudinal rows to correspond with the openings 46 in plate member 18. The plate member 20 is approximately the same size as plate member 18 to provide an equal number of similarly oriented openings. The plate member 20 is preferably slidably mounted, for example in grooves 52 in edge members 44 (FIG. 6), for movement longitudinally in the play area 14.

Plate member 20 is preferably initially positioned slightly offset from plate member 18 toward the center of the playing area 14 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 4). More particularly, longitudinal rows of openings 50 are positioned beneath longitudinal rows of openings 46 in the plate 18; however, lateral rows of openings 50 are positioned one-half row inwardly or centrally from lateral rows of openings 46. In this initial offset position, an object 54 placed within an opening 46 in the upper plate 18 will be seated on the portion of the lower plate member 20 between adjacent lateral rows of openings 50 (FIGS. 3 and 4). Movement of the lower plate 20 to the left or outwardly a distance equal to one-half the spacing between the lateral rows of openings will position openings 50 directly beneath corresponding openings 46 (FIG. 5) permitting the object 54 to pass through the plates 18 and 20 to fall toward the bottom 34 of the structure 24.

Means are provided for initially positioning plate 20 offset from plate 18 and for permitting the exact amount of outward longitudinal movement of plate 20 to position openings 50 directly beneath corresponding openings 46. For example, as shown, a spring member 56 urges the lower plate 20 inwardly away from the end 42 of the structure 24. The spring 56 is suitably attached at one end to the end 42 and at the other end abuts against a lower flange 58 of the lower plate 20. A clip member 60 with a curved seat 62 extends inwardly from end 42 above plate member 20. A pin 64 extending upwardly from the outer edge of the plate 20 is received by the seat 62 and prevents further inward movement of the plate 20 to position it in its initial position offset from the plate 18. Additionally, adjustable knobs 66 protrude outwardly from the flange 58 of the plate member 20. When the plate 20 is moved outwardly from its initial position, knobs 66 will abut. against the end 42, preventing further outward movement of the plate 20. By adjusting the amount of protrusion of the knobs 66, exact positioning of the plate 20 may be obtained so that the openings 50 are directly beneath the corresponding openings 46.

The receiving means 22 receives the objects 54 passing through plates 18 and 20 and is mounted within structure 24 for translation beneath the plates 18 and 20. The receiving means 22 has both open and closed chambers for receiving objects 54 or preventing receipt of such objects, thereby preventing passage of objects 54 from the plates 18 and 20. More particularly, the receiving means 22 may include a tray 70 slidably mounted upon angled tracks 72 attached to the bottom 34 of the structure 24. The tray 70 may be made of wood or any suitable material and includes a plurality of downwardly opening chambers or holes 74. The cross-sectional configurat on of the holes 74 is preferably identical to that of the openings 46 and 50 and the holes 74 are provided in lateral and longitudinal rows to correspond with the openings in the plates 18 and 20.

A piston member 76 is slidably mounted within each hole 74. Preferably the piston members 76 are frictionally mounted within the holes 74, and to this end circumferential expanding rings 78 are provided within annular grooves 80 about the central portion of each piston member 76. Each piston member 76 may contain one groove 80 with one expanding ring 78, as shown, or, for increased frictional engagement and for better alignment, two or more grooves 80 with corresponding expanding rings 78 may be provided (not shown). The expanding rings 78 permit the piston members 76 to be retained in any set position within the holes 74. Preferably, pistons 76 are reciprocable between an initial upper position wherein the upper face of the piston 76 is flush with the top of the tray 70 and a second lower position wherein the lower face of the piston 76 is flush with the bottom of the tray 70. To prevent the pistons 76 from sliding beyond the rims of the holes 74, annular protrusions may be provided at the upper and lower edges of the holes 74 (not shown) with corresponding annular grooves in the pistons 76 at their upper and lower faces (not shown) permitting the remainder of the upward or lower faces of the pistons to rest flush with the top or bottom of the tray 70.

The tray 70 preferably has an initial position outside the innermost edges of the plate members 18 and 20. The tray 70 may be tilted upwardly from this initial position, for example by lifting outer edge 81 of tray 70, to enable the pistons 76 to be selectively positioned as desired in the respective holes 74. Additionally, the tray 70 may be completely removed from the playing area 14 and structure 24 for better access to the pistons 76 in the positioning operation. Where all the pistons 76 are to be positioned in their initial upper positions, a plate member (not shown) with a plurality of protruding pegs of a proper length, and spaced to correspond with the centers of holes 74, may be employed, permitting the resetting of all depressed pistons 76 in one motion. When the pistons 76 have their desired settings, the tray 70 is returned to its initial position atop the bottom 34. Once the pistons 76 are in their upper initial positions, they may be pressed downwardly to their second or lower positions without tilting the tray 7 0.

The tray 70 is translatable on the angled tracks 72 which extend along the sides 36 and 38 on the bottom 34 of the structure 24 from its initial position to a second position beneath the plates 18 and 20. As the tray 70 is moved to its second position, preferably a front edge 82 ofthe tray 70 engages the lower flange 58 of the lower plate 20, moving the plate outwardly from its initial position to its second position wherein openings 50 are aligned with corresponding openings 46 in the plate 18. The knobs 66 prevent further outward movement of the plate 20 and flange 58 will prevent further movement of the tray 70. Tray 70 has now'reached its second position (FIG. 5) wherein holes 74 are preferably beneath corresponding aligned openings 50 and 46 in the plate members 20 and 18.

The piston members 76 will allow or prevent receipt of objects 54 within the respective holes 74 of the tray 70. For example, if a piston 76 is in its initial upper position flush with the upper face of the tray 70, the piston 76 will prevent an object 54 from passing through the plates 18 and 20 into the respective hole 74 in the tray 70. If, however, the piston 76 were in its second or lower position flush with the bottom of the tray 70, the object 54 would fall into the hole 74 to rest atop the piston 76. It is thus apparent that when the tray 70 is moved from its initial position to its second position to align holes 74 with corresponding aligned openings 50 and 46, objects 54 prepositioned above opened holes 74 will fall into these holes in the receiving means while objects 54 prepositioned above closed holes 74 will not 6 be received by the tray 70. Where an open hole 74 is aligned with corresponding openings 50 and 46 containing no object 54, of course, no relocation of a prepositioned game object will be possible. The tray 70 is then returned, for example by pulling on a handle 84, to its initial position outside the inner edges of the plates 18 and 20 and the player operating the tray 70 will have a visual record or tabulation of any object or objects which have been relocated. In this manner, the player is provided with a visual tabulation of the progress of the particular game. As the tray 70 is returned to its initial position, spring 56 urges lower plate 20 inwardly until the plate 20 is also returned to its initial position.

From the above it can be seen that one player would preposition objects 54 within openings 46 of the upper plate 18 and the opposing player would manipulate pistons 76 in openings 74 of the tray 70, reciprocably translating the tray 70 between its initial position and its second position beneath the plates 18 and 20, until all original prepositioned objects 54 have been relocated into corresponding opened holes 74 in the tray 70.

The openings 46 and 50 are preferably circular and of the same diameter as the circular holes 74. I have found that a generally circular cross-sectioned object 54 is more easily relocatable through the openings into an open hole. For example, the openings 46 and 50 and holes 74 may be sized to receive a spherical object 54 such as a marble, and therefore my game apparatus may be used with an object or objects common to the normal household. The size of the openings 46 and 50 and holes 74 will, of course, determine the proper size for the playing object 54, since objects which are too large will not fall through the openings and into the holes, while objects which are too small may tend to catch or hang up between the plates 18 and 20', thereby preventing movement of the lower plate 20.

As previously stated, the playing areas 14 and 16 with their respective apparatus are identical. However, for better playing conditions, the organization of the playing areas is transposed. More particularly, the plates 18 and 20 in one playing area are positioned at the opposite corner of the case 12 from the plates in the other playing area. The trays 70 are therefore translatable in opposite directions from their initial to their second positions. In this manner, each of two players may engage in two simultaneous games wherein each player assumes two necessary rolesbut in different games. For example, one player will be the one to preposition the objects in one game and will be the one to manipulate the pistons 76 and the tray 70 in the other game. Also, of course, four players may simultaneously play the two games.

In order that the prepositioned objects 54 may be hidden from the opposing player in their initial positions, I have provided a hood arrangement which may be removably mounted above the playing areas. My hood arrangement 90 includes an upwardly extending oblique member 92 which extends laterally across the respective playing area between the sides 36 and 38. Hingedly attached to the side edges of the oblique member 92 by hinge means 91 are side members 94 which extend rearwardly behind the member 92 along the respective sides 36 and 38. The hood 90 may be suitably attached, for example by a pin 95 and hinge means 96 at each of the lower corners of the oblique member 92, joining the hood 90 to and above the upper inner edge of the upper plate 18 as shown. A similar hood arrangement 90 may be provided above each of playing areas 14 and 16 and preferably is removably attached for convenient storage within the structure 24 or 26 when the apparatus is not in use. Alternatively, member 92 may be hingedly connected to the upper plate 18 in each of playing areas 14 and 16 (not shown) so that the hoods 90 may be folded downwardly and compactly for storage without disassembling any portion of the hood assembly. Additionally, a laterally extending box-like compartment 98 may be provided along the end 40 of each of the structures 24 and 26. The compartments 98 may be provided with hinged tops 99 and are suitable for storing loose parts such as game objects 54 or other miscellaneous items within the case 12.

I claim: 1. In a game apparatus, the combination of: a housing; a first plate mounted to said housing and including a plurality of openings;

a second plate mounted to said housing beneath said first plate and including a plurality of openings;

means for moving one of said plates from a first position wherein corresponding openings in said plates are disaligned into a second position wherein said corresponding openings in said plates are aligned to permit an object to pass therethrough; and

receiving means within said housing adapted to be disposed under said plates and having a plurality of chambers each selectively opened and closed for receiving objects passing through said aligned openings when opened and preventing said objects from passing through said aligned openings When closed.

2. A game apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first plate is stationary and said second plate is reciprocable between said first and second positions.

3. A game apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said receiving means comprises a tray including said lurality of chambers with a plurality of piston members reciprocably mounted each within a chamber, each of said piston members being adapted to reciprocate between a first position wherein said respective chamber is closed preventing an object from passing through respectively aligned openings and a second position wherein said chamber is open to receive an object.

4. A game apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said tray is reciprocably translatable between a first position outside of the perimeters of said plates and a second position beneath said plates wherein said chambers are aligned, respectively, with corresponding aligned openings in said plates when said one plate is moved into its said second position.

5. A game apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said first plate is stationary and said second plate is reciprocable between said first and second positions of said plate, said apparatus including biasing means urging said second plate into its said first position, said tray being engageable with an element of said second plate whereby the translation of said tray from its said first position to its said second position causes movement of said second plate from its said first position to its said second position, the

return of said tray to its said first position permitting said biasing means to urge said second plate into its said first position.

6. In a game apparatus, the combination of:

a housing defining two adjacent playing areas;

two upper plates, each mounted in one of said playing areas and including a plurality of openings; two lower plates, each mounted in one of said playing areas beneath a respective upper plate and including a plurality of openings;

means for moving one of said plates in each playing area from a first position wherein corresponding openings in said plates are disaligned into a second position wherein said corresponding openings in said plates are aligned to permit an object to pass therethrough; and

receiving means in each playing area adapted to be disposed under said plates and having a plurality of chambers each selectively opened and closed for receiving objects passing through said aligned openings when opened and preventing said objects from passing through said aligned openings when closed.

7. A game apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said housing is foldable along a fold line between said playing areas into an open position wherein said playing areas are coplanar and adjacent and a closed position wherein said playing areas are substantially contiguous.

8. A game apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said upper plates are stationary and said lower plates are reciprocable between said first and second positions.

9. A game apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said receiving means in each playing area comprises a tray including said plurality of chambers with a plurality of piston members reciprocably mounted each within a chamber, each of said piston members being adapted to reciprocate between a first position wherein said respective chamber is closed preventing an object from passing through respectively aligned openings and a second position wherein said chamber is open to receive an object.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,450,325 9/1948 Zirin 273-136 2,476,457 7/1949 Schneider 273-138 2,744,753 5/1956 Beethoven 273- 3,061,313 10/1962 Greene 273-139 DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 273-139 

